One
of the unique activities offered by Rann Riders is the
cross-desert safari across the Little Rann of Kutch
in open vehicles.

The Rann of Kutch
is a geographically unique landscape that was once an
arm of the Arabian Sea. As the land separated from the
sea by geological forces, it became a vast, featureless
plain encrusted with salt that is inundated with water
during the rains.

The safari across
the Little Rann visits the 'bets', islands on the ancient
seabed that are now higher grounds covered with grass
and scrub.

These 'bets' support
a variety of wildlife including the 'Gudkhur' (Asiatic
wild ass) that is not found elsewhere. The wild ass
is a handsome chestnut brown member of the equus genus
(horse family). Capable of reaching high speeds when
galloping across the Rann, the wild ass is usually seen
in small herds.

The elegant blackbuck
(Indian antelope), nilgai or blue bull (India's largest
antelope) and the graceful chinkara (Indian gazelle)
are other mammals seen at the bets.

The main carnivores
of the Little Rann of Kutch are the endangered Indian
wolf, desert fox, Indian fox, jackals, desert and jungle
cats, and a few hyenas.

Smaller mammals
like hares, gerbilles and hedgehogs, and reptiles like
spiny tailed lizard, monitor, red and common sand boa,
saw-scaled viper, cobra, dhaman (Indian rat snake),
etc, could also be seen during the safaris in the Rann.